V.I.S. - Thursday 24 October 1996
VATICAN CITY, OCT 24, 1996 (VIS) - The document of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," "World Hunger. A Challenge for All: Development for Solidarity," was made public today. Distributed in five languages, it is dated October 4, feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
It has 80 pages, comprises a presentation, an introduction and five parts and is signed by Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes and Msgr. Ivan Marin, respectively president and secretary of the council.
The presentation, written by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, states: "The study now published intends to give a further contribution to the commitment of Christians, that of sharing in the needs of all. The themes dealt with are very much of the present day, not only in describing the present situation in the world, as far as hunger is concerned, but also the ethical implications of this problem which concerns all who are of goodwill."
The title of this document can be traced to an idea in John Paul II's first encyclical, "Redemptor Hominis," of 1979, when he spoke of the need for "a resolute commitment by individuals and peoples that are free and linked in solidarity."
"It is generally acknowledged," says the introduction, "that the resources of the planet, taken as a whole, are sufficient to feed everyone living on it. ... The challenge facing the whole of humanity today is certainly economic and technological in character, but it is more specifically an ethical, spiritual and political challenge. The challenge is as much a matter of practical solidarity and authentic development as it is of material advancement."
Part I, entitled "The Reality of Hunger," presents the causes of hunger: economic, socio-cultural and political. The debt of developing countries, with its high social costs, is mentioned among the economic causes. As to socio- cultural causes, the document notes that demographic density does not explain hunger. Political causes include the influence of politics in a country and economic and social de-structuring.
Part II, "Ethical Challenges to be Taken up by All," urges giving preference to listening to the poor, to disarmament and to community initiatives in overcoming the problem of world hunger and malnutrition, access to credit and the paramount role of women in the fight against hunger.
"Towards an Economy Based on Greater Solidarity," Part III, offers reflections on overcoming the debt problem of the least developed countries through an increase in public assistance - giving priority to local production - and underlines the importance of agrarian reform. The role of Catholic International Associations (OIC) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in promoting the integral development of the poor is recognized.
In Part IV, "The Jubilee of the Year 2000. A Stage in the Battle Against Hunger," reference is made to the initiatives proposed in the Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" to actively promote social justice. An appeal is made, on the occasion of the Jubilee, for suggestions which could accelerate the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
The final part of the document, "Hunger: A Call to Love," counsels love for the poor, the necessary reform of the human heart to see beyond one's immediate interests, freeing oneself from idols (material goods, power, fame and pleasure) and support for initiatives in favor of the poor.